'Tea Money' expected with Direct Application?

[jonathanbkk]

I made my Direct Application for MM2H in November 2011, and expecting a reply within 8 weeks (now!) I booked my flights from Bkk to KL for this weekend, only to be told by phone yesterday that they hadn't discussed my case yet, and she 'didn't know when the next committee meeting might be held - either this month (Jan 2012) or next.
I suspect they are delaying my application hoping for some 'tea money' which an agent might usually pay for me out of the hefty RM 7,000 fee.
Has anyone here successfully made a Direct Application without oiling any palms?

[jr6020]

Yes, indeed.  I submitted my own application back in '07 and (at least at that time) everything was on the up and up (if I'd been asked for "Tea Money" I would have told them where to stuff it ).  In fact, MOT handled my application in a very timely and professional manner .  I would like to think they still do it that way...Jim, USA

[jonathanbkk]

Thanks, Jim, for that. But if they do require 'tea money', they do in fact have you by the short and curlies, so telling them where to stuff it will not hasten the process!
I have in fact seen here in another post that there is a backlog as they only held one Committee Meeting in November 2011. The last approved application was number 10850 which means I am 167 on their list - so I hope they manage to process at least 168 applications at their next meeting!

[King of Lost Fools]

Thanks, Jim, for that. But if they do require 'tea money', they do in fact have you by the short and curlies, so telling them where to stuff it will not hasten the process!

You are misreading the situation. I submitted my MM2H application direct on 26th September and was approved in November. No 'tea money' or anything else changed hands.

They are just having a backlog of applications to process due to not having a meeting in December and having had more applications than usual lately. This is why they have been setting peoples expectations about when they are likely to be dealt with. It is nothing sinister.

See more details here:
http://www.my2home.info/index.php/topic,2453.msg22662/topicseen.html#msg22662

[Atilla]

There are numerous posts from folks who have made successful DIY applications. 'Tea money' has never been an issue AFAIK. Sure wasn't with mine.

[Shirley Liu]

Yes, I did my applications diy as well, NO tea money was requested.

Cheers,
shirley

[jonathanbkk]

Thank you, all for the responses.
I am also importing a new car from UK - it was registered over 6 months ago, so complies with the letter of the law, altho' being "new".
The Audi garage in Butterworth not only want to charge me 5x the hourly rate for servicing it (as they say the computer configurations are for Europe!!) but have also told me that the intention of this tax concession is to stimulate Malaysian industry - so I can only buy a locally built or assembled model, or my own 'genuine' used car. They say my application for an import permit will be refused. I think this is BS.
Any ideas?

[King of Lost Fools]

They say my application for an import permit will be refused. I think this is BS.

Agreed. I think that is BS as well.

It clearly states that you are allowed to import your own car on the MM2H Website at Motour. No if's, no but's.

Admittedly, getting a qualified Audi mechanic might be difficult and there may be differences with the equivalent specification available in Malaysia, but that has got nothing to do with getting an import permit.

I'm pretty sure that the Audi in Malaysia is the same damn model they build for the UK, just with a decent air conditioning system.

[jonathanbkk]

My Audi dealer in UK agrees - impossible for one factory to produce cars with several hundred 'computer figurations'! And anyway, a UK Audi can be driven to Spain or Italy in mid-summer, when it can be over 40C (and then to northern Sweden, where it was -35C last winter!)
Have become cynical after 4 years in Thailand, where the letter of the law and the application of the law are 2 quite different things. 'Sorry sir, we have lost your paperwork' 'The officer you need to see is not in today' 'We need an extra form BS2157, and I don't know where you can find this - look on our Thai website' 'Our photocopier is broken today - if only we had funds for a new one...' etc etc. Well, do you want the car this year, or not? 

[scott]

hi,

The Internet, and sites like this one, have allowed access to a lot of information and exchanges of experiences so the usual "tea money" route, along with a need for runners or folks in the know, has lessened.

Add-in a lot of unfamiliarity, or plain ignorance, and a lot of face, and the mix is messy. It's hard to know sometimes if answers or comments are based on facts, or overcharging, or expectations.

Yesterday the air-con installer was talking about re-plastering around the position for the air-con. It's needed due to the pipework hacking for concealment. He said that he could arrange it. He's already in my books as a total wally and I've complained twice to the supplier. It's all become complicated.

Anyway, he phones up someone who gets lost on the way to the condo. The air-con guy finishes the testing, and later 2 plasterer guys turn up. They look around. The air-con guy is the "arranger."

I've already priced the plastering at RM500 - RM600 given 2 guys for 1 day plus RM50 materials. Reasonable.

The arranger says RM1,500 and when I fall apart he goes back over to the plasters. Back over to me with RM1,000 and I'm still spluttering (where's my Oscar ?). Back to them, back to me with RM800. I say no.

There's then an argument between all 3 of them, waste of time, too greedy, so I ask them to step outside and close the door. Not my problem.

It starts as a try-on. And the same with everyone, and everywhere. My Malaysian neighbour paid RM60,000 for a reno worth around 1/2 that - and she knows it as she told me.

It's all just like "kopi-money" and it's probably "try-it-on money."

Shopping around counts. On Wednesday I paid RM1350 for a really nice SS kitchen sink in Perak as I couldn't find the right one in Penang. Yesterday, wouldn't you know it, I go into a kitchen suppliers in Penang and the same sink is there for RM1,100. After discount RM800. Win some, lose some.